Sunday, March 15, 2015

Modal verbs

Hi first of Batxillerat students
Let's have a look to modal verbs
Modal verbs

SituationModal VerbExample
requests
(formal)
mayMay I sit down?
requests
(informal)
canCan I sit down?
requests
(polite)
couldCould I sit down?
requests
(polite)
wouldWould you mind if I sit down?
permission
(formal)
mayYou may sit down.
permission
(informal)
canYou can sit down.
obligation
(full)
mustYou must tell the
police the truth.
obligation
(partial)
shouldYou should tell
your friends the truth.
obligation (partial)
(less common)
ought toYou ought to tell
your friends the truth.
logical conclusions 
(stronger than "should")
mustHe left an hour ago, so he must be there already.
logical conclusions 
(weaker than "must")
shouldHe left half an hour ago,
I believe he should
be there already.
possibility
(general)
canIt can rain sometimes.
possibility
(weaker than
"may" and "might")
couldIt could rain, but it is
not very common in this
part of the country.
possibility
(weaker than "may")
mightIt's not very cloudy yet,
but it might rain.
possibility
(stronger than "might")
mayIt's starting to get cloudy –
it may rain soon.
futureactions/states/intentionswillLook at the sky!
It will rain soon.

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